Honesty is the Best Policy During Interviews

Honesty is the best policy during interviews for various reasons. Often, honesty among applicants is a critical differentiator in setting a candidate apart from others. 

Lying in job interviews is more common than one may think. Research shows that most people embellish their experiences, though big lies are less common. A University of Massachusetts study found that an overwhelming 81% of people have lied about themselves at some point during the interview process.

According to The Wall Street Journal, interviews are an exercise in deception. Psychologists explain that we’re conditioned to tell lies to make ourselves look better and to make others feel good about themselves. They also point to other factors: personality type plays a role, and competitiveness can encourage people to stretch the truth.

Expected or not, lies during interviews don’t help anyone. As Rayna Anderson-Crier, CPCC, career, leadership, and workplace coach at Rice Business, stated: "Never be anyone in the interview that you can't/won't be every day on the job."

The Reputational Damage of Lying in an Interview

If candidates lie in an interview, they set higher expectations for their potential recruiter. That is bad news. 

Lying diminishes applicants’ credibility and can lead to termination if a worker becomes exposed to being ill-equipped to fulfill an employer’s expectations. If prospective employees cannot meet the demands of the position due, their reputational status and position are at risk.

In smaller companies with fewer employees designated to each role,  each individual’s actions hold more weight than they might at a bigger company. Applicants who fabricate their resumes damage the relationship with the company’s employers, whose time and resources they’ve wasted, and who might have otherwise kept them in mind for more appropriate positions down the line. 

Developing a reputation for exaggerating or lying may exclude a potential employee from other interviews and employment opportunities. More than 55% of people admit to lying on their resume, and the consequences are far-reaching and a disservice to applicants and employers alike. 

Lying about credentials is short-sighted, self-sabotaging, and also deprives qualified prospects of the opportunity to fill the positions. But if an applicant is honest and upfront in their interview, noting that they need a bit of further coaching,  they will more than likely receive the guidance they require. 

Why Do Candidates Lie?

Applying for a new job can be stressful, and according to a 2020 survey, that stress is leading a majority of job seekers to lie on their resumes to stand out. Specifically, researchers found that 78% of candidates who applied for or received a job offer admit they did or would consider misrepresenting themselves on their application.

With significant tech layoffs, unemployment at 3.5%, and inflation on the rise, many applicants who lie on their resumes are driven by their immediate needs. Many applicants do not have insidious motives – they simply cannot afford to be unemployed.  

A 2022 Move.org study tapped the Bureau of Labor Statistics data and found that between March 2021 and March 2022, the average inflation on prices for all items increased by 8.5%, a significant jump compared to the year before the increase was only 2.6%.

Additionally, the average price for all items has increased by more than 11% over the last two years, while the overall living costs have increased by an average of 13% in the previous year.

Applicants also tend to lie the most about previous work experience (55.4%), skills (43.1%) and job specific and/or equipment skills (33.5%). These applicants expect to have the time to learn the prerequisite skills upon occupying their positions. 

But this expectation will likely lead to unnecessary stressors, especially when asked to perform a task without notice or preparation. Learning vital skills could require time outside the office to play catch-up while keeping up with the usual workflow demands. These stressors will all occur while adjusting to the new company culture.  

Sometimes, lying on a job application or resume is innocuous. Job candidates feel caught off guard or ill-equipped to answer specific questions and offer knee-jerk, fabricated responses they think employers want to hear. 

Whether or not lying is symptomatic of poor moral conduct or something more harmless, employers can’t risk liability on behalf of employees who are apt to play fast and loose with the truth. Employers hire candidates who demonstrate discretion and restraint and are unlikely to jeopardize the integrity of their companies (e.g., divulging privileged information or damaging office morale, etc.).  

Don’t Lie in Interviews!

A prospective employee’s answers to interview questions reflect how they will react in high-stakes, high-stress situations they might encounter throughout their tenure. 

To prepare for an interview, candidates should understand what they are and are not required to disclose under the protection of the law. For example, employers cannot ask anyone's age under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). 

Additionally, it's illegal for employers to ask an applicant if they are in good health or if they have had any past illnesses or operations. Companies are not allowed to ask about an applicant's height, weight, or any details regarding any physical or mental limitations.

And if candidates are concerned about resume gaps or feel they haven’t accomplished as much as their peers, they can remove information from their resume or LinkedIn that would indicate their age, mitigating the possibility of age discrimination. 

Candidates should also become familiar with what information employers can fact-check and what will appear on a background check. For example, your employment history, education, and criminal record are easily accessible to prospective employers.

When in doubt, it is best to pause and collect your thoughts. Interview questions should be well-rounded and similar for every applicant. Be bold and speak up if anything seems out of the ordinary. More often than not, it is better to clarify than to lie. 

In a job interview, candidates must show their best side. But this doesn’t mean they have to exaggerate their resume or lie to an interviewer's face. Candidates should learn the ins and outs of the company, become familiar and honest with their skills and qualities, and understand that dishonesty will ultimately set them back in their careers.